Jethava murder accused wins election from jail

RAJKOT: Slain RTI activist AmitJethava's murder accused Shiva Solanki, who contested the municipal polls held on Sunday as a BJP candidate, has emerged victorious. Nephew of BJP MP from JunagadhDinuSolanki, he had filed his nomination from ward number nine in Kodinar municipality and campaigned while being lodged in jail.

BJP made a clean sweep of Kodinar municipality by winning all the 27 seats. This is party's third consecutive win in the municipal polls.

Jethava was shot dead near Gujarat high court (HC) in July 2010. Ahmedabad Crime Branch had arrested six persons in the case, including Shiva and sharp shooter Sailesh Pandya, who had allegedly fired at Jethava. Jethava had filed several petitions in the HC against the forest department along with public interest litigations (PIL) on illegal mining in Gir forests of Junagadh district, which is considered the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world.

Jethava's father Bikha Jethava approached the HC stating that the police had not conducted any investigation in the alleged involvement of Solanki in the murder. In September 2012, the HC had ordered CBI probe in the case.

Shiva was the president of Kodinar municipality before he was arrested. Sources said that for this municipal poll he campaigned through postcards from jail. His rivals failed to make a mark in the election.

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